USA Fencing Summer Nationals Recap

This past week, from June 29th to July 8th, USA Fencing hosted their National Championships & July Challenge at the Greater Columbus Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Participants arrived and competed from all corners of the US. In collaboration with USA Fencing, InGenius Prep brings you an abridged recap of the USA Fencing 2024 Summer Nationals along with the days’ gold medalists and notable events. 

For a complete recap and results of the 2024 Summer Nationals, visit USA Fencing's News Page where they break down the National Championship day-by-day. 

Event Recap

The sparring commenced on Day 1, June 9th, when Tierna Oxenreider from the New York Athletic Club & New York Fencing Academy won gold for Division I Women's Epee. The three other gold medalists for day one included Katerina Lung (Moe Fencing Club LLC) for Junior Women's Foil, William Morrill (Scarsdale Fencing Center & Fencers Club Inc.) for Junior Men's Saber, and Elijah Imrek (Alliance Fencing Academy) for Junior Men's Epee. 

Day 2 saw Grace Ker winning gold for Division I-A Women's Saber, marking her first championship for the Summer Nationals. The five other gold medalists for June 30th were Grace Hu for Junior Women's Epee, Simon Lioznyansky for Division I Men's Epee, Jordan Silberzweig for Division I Men's Saber, Albert Bagdány for Junior Men's Foil, and the final gold medal for the Senior Team Women's Foil going to the GSFA team—Sabrina Cho, Chin-Yi Kong, Shuang Li, Yukari Takamizawa. 

Day 3 gold medals were well-earned by Valerie Asher and Daniel Chirashnya for Vet-60 Women's Epee and Cadet Men's Epee, respectively. Among them were ten other gold medalists: Caterina Rovati for Vet-40 Women's Epee, Ann Totemeier for Vet-50 Women's Epee, Liz Kocab for Vet-70 Women's Epee, Bettie Graham for Vet-80 Women's Epee, Jaelyn Liu for Division I Women's Foil, Jenna Shoman for Junior Women's Saber, Emilio Gonzalez for Cadet Men's Saber, Julia Yin for Cadet Women's Epee, and the two gold medals for the Senior Team Women's Epee and Senior Team Men's Foil respectively going to team Mama Said Knock You Out—Jasmine McGlade, Lake Mawu Sheffield, Natalia Toby, Christina Watrall—and team GSFA—Kian Dierks, Ethan Gassner, Dean Myers, Akhmadillokhon Solikhojiev.

Day 4 had Jaelyn Liu winning her second gold medal for Cadet Women's Foil—matching the first one she'd won the day prior and becoming one of the sixteen gold medalists for July 2nd. Jaelyn told USA Fencing, "I'm a fighter right now. I've been trying to stay calm and all of my bouts, that's something I've been working on, my emotions," Liu says. "I think I definitely succeeded in that." Some of the other gold medalists for day four include Chris O'Laughlin OLY of the New York Athletic Club, who won in Vet-50 Men's Epee, and Jeannine Bender of the Capital Fencing Academy, winning in Vet-70 Women's Saber—both competitors being among the few to win gold two years in a row. 

Day 5 was filled with intensity and grit as the day ended with 18 gold medalists and 144 contestants walking away with accolades. Of them, Scarlett Lee won gold in her final event as a Y-14 fencer—winning in Y-14 Women's Epee. She was joined by Jeff Kallio from Forge Fencing Teams, winning in Vet-40 Men's Saber and adding to his medals in Vet Combined and at Veteran NACs.

Day 6 saw 14 gold medalists. Highlights included Team FeNCe, Ethan Gassner, and Rafael Suarez. Team FeNCe, composed of Jane Carter, Inga Cho, Margaret Kerr, and chemist Ann Marsh-Senic (who came up with their team name), won the gold medal in Veteran Team Women's Foil. Ethan Gassner performed perfectly, earning the gold medal in Division I-A Men's Foil, letting no contestant land more than ten touches on him. Rafael Suarez (Masters Fencing Club) also displayed determination in his bouts, winning gold in Veteran-50 Men's Foil and saying, "I think it keeps you young. I am very proud to be a fencer at 50 years old, you know I am still making medals."

There were seven gold medalists for Day 7. Sasha Gay of the Halberstadt Fencers' Club saw a resounding comeback in her final, closing in on a point gap and securing the gold medal in Y-12 Women's Saber. Howard Li also won gold in Y-12 Men's Saber and ranked at the top of the pools. Viviene Goor (Massialas Foundation) came in and claimed the gold for Y-14 Women's Foil—going undefeated in the pools and earning her national championship. 

Day 8 was a day of turnarounds as another seven gold medalists emerged from the strip. Kai Osminkina-Jones claimed victory after a losing start in Y-10 Women's Saber, making a striking comeback and earning her the gold medal. Sophie Lenk of the Massialas Foundation had a similar turnaround, ultimately coming back in the ranks and winning in Division III Women's Foil. James Boudreaux (Elite Fencing Academy), too, had a rough start to his bouts before emerging victorious, winning gold in the Y-12 Men's Epee.

On Day 9, another seven contestants took home gold. Eunseong Lim (Auburn Fencing Club) won in the Y-10 Men's Foil. Maya Golovitser (South Bay Fencing Academy) earned gold and the national championship for Division III Women's Saber. And Youlong Lin (LA International Fencing) won her second national title in as many days for Division II Men's Foil. 

Day 10, the last day of the USA Fencing National Championships & July Challenge, came and went, seeing four gold medalists as a climactic wrap to the Summer Nationals. Jacob Gilshteyn from LA International Fencing rose among the competition and brought home gold in Division III Men's Saber. "I've never felt better in my life, honestly, like I finally got a national medal," he told USA Fencing. Wesley Kropp (Elite Fencing Academy) won gold and the national championship in Y-10 Men's Epee, and joining him as a national champion in the Y-10 Women's Foil included Lydia Chang (Silicon Valley Fencing Center). Finally, for the Division III Men's Foil championship

In total, over 95 Championship titles and gold medals were awarded, with over 720 other awards and accolades being given to the other contestants, each of which trained and fought hard to be among those to compete in the USA Fencing National Championships & July Challenge. 

For more details of the events day-by-day and a complete list of all the medals awarded to the combatants, visit USA Fencing's News Page, where they break down the entire 2024 Summer Nationals with more insights and comments from the gold medalists. 

In Partnership with InGenius Prep

InGenius Prep is honored to continue working in partnership with USA Fencing to bring fencing as a sport to more men and women of all ages across the nation. As USA Fencing continues its work, InGenius Preps aims to open the door for all students and young athletes to pursue their passion and forge their unique paths in college and beyond. 

To learn more about the top US universities and how fencing can enhance your college application, read our blog, Fencing in College: How to Apply Fencing to Your Applications. Or, to begin your student's college development and give them the best chance at acceptance into their dream schools, schedule a free consultation call with an advisor today!

And to learn more about fencing, fencing new, and upcoming fencing events, visit USAFencing.org and join one of the largest fencing associations in the US.